U.s. May Shelve Ham Ban

ROME — Real Italian prosciutto, that salty but sweet uncooked ham often served draped over cold, sliced melon, may be allowed back into the United States after a nearly 20-year ban.

Ambassador to Italy Maxwell Rabb said here that the U.S. Department of Agriculture, after three years of intensive negotiations with Italy, is proposing changes in federal regulations that would allow Italian prosciutto back into U.S. markets.

Italian prosciutto (pronounced pro-SHOO-toe) was banned by the U.S. in 1967, when an outbreak of African swine fever hit the Italian island of Sardinia. U.S. officials feared uncooked hams from tainted animals might spread the disease to U.S. herds.

Americans have been eating U.S.-produced prosciutto since the ban was imposed.

The new U.S. proposals are expected to be published in the Federal Register within a week, then a 60-day period for comment will follow. The Agriculture Department will take final action on the proposals after studying the comment, Rabb said.